The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

invasive volunteers at work © The Nature Conservancy

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Hike a nature trail that begins at the property's gatehouse. View All

Plan Your Visit

View All

Get Directions

Why You Should Visit
Characterized by sand dunes and coastal thicket, this six-mile barrier beach protects some of the best dune and swale communities in the Northeast. The beach provides important nesting and feeding habitat for migrating shorebirds and the federally threatened piping plover. Diamondback terrapin turtles also nest and feed in the dunes and saltmarsh.

Location
Barnstable, Massachusetts

Size
12 acres

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Sandy Neck offers one of the best beach and dune systems in the eco-region.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Nature Conservancy is working with the town of Barnstable to reduce impacts from invasive species and recreational use at Sandy Neck.

Hours
Dawn to dusk

What to See: Plants
Dune plants and saltmarsh plants

What to See: Animals
Piping plovers, migrating shorebirds, Diamondback terrapin turtles

Things To Do

A nature trail begins at the property’s gatehouse (you must pay for parking during the summer). Visitors are instructed to stay on the beach, dune or marsh trails; access to dunes is not permitted. Due to the difficulty of access to Conservancy property, we recommend you use the town’s marked trails.

Plan Your Visit

If you have any questions while planning your outing, please contact our Boston office at (617) 532-8300.

Directions

From Boston:

• Take Route 93S to Route 3. 
• Follow Route 3 to Sagamore Bridge and then take Route 6 to Exit 5. 
• Turn left onto Route 149N (approximately one mile). 
• Take a left onto Route 6A (approximately four miles).
• On the left will be The Beach House Restaurant. Across the street is Sandy Neck Rd. Turn right and drive to the end of the street to the parking lot.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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